Label: Stumble
Recorded live in Ratingen, 1995 Germany
Blues
Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters present a rip-roaring mixture of blues, swing, and rock 'n' roll that they have branded their own. Their collaboration started in 1995 and resulted in numerous international appearances and three CDs. "Big Time In Big D", was recorded in Texas with guest appearances by Anson Funderburgh, Mike Morgan and Johnny Moeller.
Though Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters have great respect for the blues as an institution, as a group they're firmly rooted in the present. "We want to be a band that's happening right now."
Memo Gonzalez, who hails from Dallas, Texas, has played clubs such as "B.B. King's" in Memphis, Tennessee, and "Antone's" in Austin, Texas, but he also commands the stage in European with his fat harmonica ("the juicy tone") and his powerful voice. Memo's performance proves with every drop of sweat and every bounce of his slicked back hair that the blues is more than just pain, that it offers wisdom, wit, and a whole lotta fun. From Texan roadhouse blues that's heavy on the guitar to spicy Louisiana R&B, Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters set in motion an earthquake wherever their busy touring schedule (about 120 nights a year) takes them.
In the 1980s Memo Gonzalez co-founded a band that is destined to go down in Dallas blues history, The Weebads. That band lasted for years with dozens of the area's best players (e.g. Hash Brown, Paul Size and Johnny Moeller) rotating through. He also worked with Jim Suhler in one of his early bands, The Road Hogs. It was in the early 1990s when Memo started to tour in Europe. After thoroughly stealing the show on a Harmonica Rumble revue in Holland, he met the Bluescasters' bassist Erkan Özdemir.
The band's guitarist, Kai Strauss, can hold his own on any international stage. His breathtakingly intense playing mixes blues with everything that America has brought forth since the 1950s, though Kai prefers the down 'n dirty greats of the genre.
Bass player Erkan Özdemir is quite a sight, too, with a beat-up bass guitar that's slung so low, you'd think he's playing an upright. Erkan is one of the main reasons why the band swings like a suspension bridge in a hurricane. Drummer Klaus Schnirring propels the group through the set, expending about as much energy during a concert as a marathon runner.
What makes this band truly great is their style, the fun they have, and their take on the blues. When the band isn't off touring somewhere, they're busy working on a new CD, so there's more to look forward to.
To date Memo Gonzalez & The Bluescasters have released Let's All Get Drunk and Get Tattooed (Live, 1996), 10,000 Miles (1998) and Big Time In Big D (2003).
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I'VE seen better bands play the Shades of Blues gigs at The Maltings Arts Theatre but Memo Gonzalez and The Bluescasters got more people on their feet on Saturday night than any of the others.
The big man himself - all 300lbs of him - did repeatedly urge the audience to come and dance and even arranged for a space to be cleared.
Memo comes from Texas while his backing band appears to be mainly German. They have been playing their rip-roaring mix of blues, swing and rock-and-roll together since 1995.
I don't know how Memo maintains his weight the way he rocks and sweats his way round the stage. But the big man has a gargantuan appetite for fun and wants everyone to share it with him.
Memo's brand of Southern charm seemed to unglue people from their seats to get them up and dancing.
I loved his massive quiff which seemed to take on a life of its own as he bopped his way round the groaning stage.
Drummer Henk Punter gets so transported by the music that his facial contortions are a joy to behold.
Lead guitarist Kai Strauss can clearly hold his own with all the best blues guitarists in the business but he could do with inhabiting the stage in a more convincing way. Still, what he lacks in showmanship he more than makes up for in sheer ability.
He was ably aided and abetted by Henk and Erkan Ozdemir on bass who appeared to be observing the proceedings in a good-humoured fashion rather as though the audience were the performers.
The title of one of the band's CDs, Let's All Get Drunk and get Tattooed, perhaps gives you a flavour of their down-to-earth brand of humour.
By Mary Brosnan.
**
William Gonzalez - Harmonica & Vocals
Kai Strauss - Guitar
Erkan Özdemir - Bass
Peter Samland - Drums
Thomas Feldmann - Tenor Sax
**
01. Lone Wolf Blues 6:38
02. Tramp 7:06
03. F'N Shuffle 5:22
04. Hey, Little Girl 5:38
05. Mama, I Like Your Thigs 5:26
06. 300 Pounds of Joy 4:38
07. Sweet Little Thing 4:04
08. Puppy, Puppy 9:00
09. Get It Hot 5:44
10. Walk That Walk 4:24
11. The Break Song 7:10
**
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